Progress!

Thursday was a great day for getting things done and seeing how progress can actually be made. We started out the morning deciding to get tickets to take the Wooly kids out on Sunday. Originaly, we were thinking of just taking them to Garden City for chicken and then playing outside on the jungle gym. We were driving around on Wednesday and heard a commercial for an event called, "My Kid is a Star". We thought it might work and the admission is only abut $4 each, so we decided to ask more about it. There is a coffe shop called Good Africa where we heard we could get more information and tickets. We asked the waitress about it and instead of answering us, she gave us a table and told us to wait. A while later a guy came down to talk with us. We were just expecting an explanation of what happens on Sunday, but instead we got a full history of the event. Joseph, the founder of the event, started putting on these parties to celebrate kids because there really aren't good places to take kids out for a fun day in Kampala. He said there is no Disney World and he would like to give the kids an experience like it. As the events got bigger, he decided that there should be something else in the day that will help improve the country and help kids take ownership of the world they live in. He decided to start a project planting mango trees and teaching kids about taking care of their country. He also said that even if a kid didn't have anything to eat, having a mango tree would provide some sort of food for them. He started this amazing green campaign that brings hundreds of trees at a time to schools and villages that need trees. He was really excited about the first trip he took because he was "giving birth" to a new campaign and as they were driving there was a woman giving birth on the side of the road. They stopped to help and when it was all over, the woman suggested that they plant a tree to remember the spot. He checks in on the lady and baby and has invited them to this fun day to celebrate kids and the earth in Kampala. When we told him we were going to take kids from Watoto, he was so excited that he decided to give us some tickets for free! He seems like a really great person with a passion for kids and his country. It's so inspiring to meet people who do great work.


We were a little hungry after our meeting and seeing all the good food made our decision easy, so we made the mistake of getting a bite to eat. I always forget that when we visit places, they always feed us and refusal is not an option! We visited Agape a little while later and it was lunch time so we ate delicious traditional food. I always wish I would have decided not to eat when the situation arises, because as much as I love the food that people cook for us, I always get to a point where I know I can't eat any more, but I can't waste it so I choke down (almost literally) whatever is left on my plate.

Agape was actually a really great visit. We came as they were finishing a Bible teaching session with a local pastor, so they invited us to sit in the front, facing all the boys. I always hate being put at the center of attention, but it is usually unavoidable! At the end of the sermon, the house mom, Catherine, re-introduced us and welcomed my mom and then invited her to speak. I was so proud of her for getting up and telling her story! She told a little about herself and then told the boys how special they are and how God really does love them and has a plan and purpose for their lives. It was a totally fitting message and it showed the true heart of a mom for her children!

Afterwards, they wanted to show us the progress on the toilet/shower. It was so impressive to see! I mean, it's not like a fancy hotel bathroom or even a normal bathroom with sinks, toilets, urinals, or even running water, but it is such an improvement! Joshua told us that this project has become something of a legacy for the boys. It has given many of them confidence and ownership of something and has left a mark on them. I was thinking back to three weeks ago when the boys and I were so unsure of whether or not we should spend the money to do the project and I can't imagine why we wouldn't! It has already made a difference to the boys and it has cleaned up the area. Looking at the before and after pictures below, you can see it is so much better! Catherine also informed us that they just made an announcement that there will be a bit of a crackdown on ispections of NGO's and she said the first thing they will check is sanitation! Lucky for them, they now have almost sanitary conditions. I say almost because there is still a little work to do to finish the bathroom and close the drainage hole. This time, we didn't hesitate to provide Joshua with the remaining 120,000 shillings ($55) to finish it! I am excited to see the completely finished project which will hopefully be done soon!


After eating at Agape, we knew we were in trouble because our favorite cab driver, Joseph, has a beautiful wife, Eva, who invited us over to her house. She always cooks for us so we tried to be ready to eat again. She is so sweet and such a hard worker. Her, Joseph, and their two boys live in one room and cook in another adjacent room. They have two more rooms that they rent out, an apartment across from them that they rent out, and a house across the road that they rent out. They use the money to pay for school fees for their children and a bunch of Joseph's relatives in the village. I can't beleive how small of a living space they have with so many other rooms and apartments that they own. It is really the only way that they can afford the school fees and keep saving money to do the things they need to do. It was a great visit and we are excited to use Joseph for a trip on Monday. The boys were at the grandmother's house in the village, but we talked to them on the phone for a little bit. Overall, it was an amazing day and lots of fun, too!

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